Kathleen Lippa
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Sep 01/03) - Nunavut's chief medical health officer Dr. Geraldine Osborne has resigned her position after two years.

She returned to Ireland with her family last Tuesday.

Deputy health minister Bernie Blais said Osborne resigned "for personal reasons."

"Geraldine Osborne was an excellent individual," he said. "She was highly committed to her profession."

The department tried to woo her back with a new offer, Blais said. But Osborne was firm about returning to her homeland.

Priya Gaba, a tuberculosis specialist with the department of health and social services, said Dr. Osborne will be greatly missed.

"She supported me throughout," said Gaba who was hired at the same time Osborne was in 2001.

Osborne was a very hands-on, involved senior manager.

"You need that," said Gaba.

Osborne was hired Sept. 1, 2001 and was on contract until July 2003.

In May she advised the department she was not renewing her contract.

The role of a chief medical officer is to improve the health status of the population.

They keep in close contact with public health workers, and oversee educational programs and prevention of diseases.

"Our challenges are very large," Blais said. "I don't think there is any job we have in health and social services that isn't stressful."

The job will take three or four months to fill, Blais said.

In the interim, Dr. Rick Nuttle, based in Victoria, B.C., is providing back-up coverage for the Department of Health and Social Services on contract.